CLS-Chapter 243

Chapter 243

‘Could he be poisoned?’

It might just be his wishful thinking, hoping for even a slightly better situation. But this was a reasonable suspicion.

More than anything else, the fact that Wei Yan-ho was showing a different appearance from usual was deepening his suspicions.

‘He’s definitely acting strange.’

Until now, Wei Yan-ho had never really tried to do anything particular with his opponents. He would just step onto the martial platform, instantly close the distance, and cleanly send his opponent—no matter that they were martial artists who had learned martial arts—flying far into the sky.

The fact that Wei Yan-ho wasn’t moving despite having been on the martial platform for quite some time was highly significant.

‘Jonggeok isn’t a foolish man.’

If his uncle hadn’t trusted him, he would never have entrusted the poisoning to Dang Jonggeok. When it came to secret poisoning, even Dang Jongui couldn’t match Dang Jonggeok.

That was only natural—wasn’t Dang Jonggeok the one who had specialized in handling the dirty work within the family, poisoning countless people?

Then the poisoning must have been properly executed.

Dang Jongui slowly straightened his shoulders.

It wasn’t enough to feel completely at ease yet, but in this situation, it was worth taking a stab at it.

“Are you alright? You don’t look well at all.”

“Don’t worry about it. I still have enough strength left to send you flying.”

“Hehehe.”

A smile bloomed on Dang Jongui’s face.

‘So his body really isn’t in good condition.’

It seemed that fellow had no talent for verbal sparring. Any martial artist with even a little experience wouldn’t so easily reveal their weakness to an opponent.

Even if a martial artist of Wei Yan-ho’s caliber was poisoned, he couldn’t let his guard down completely, but Dang Jongui didn’t miss the subtle trembling in Wei Yan-ho’s legs.

‘What should I do?’

Could he trust in the Yin-Yang Soul Grass and compete in this match?

‘It’s too risky.’

Dang Jongui coldly considered the power difference between himself and Wei Yan-ho. Even a bankrupt rich man can last three years, and even a master on the verge of death can still unleash sword energy.

Even though Wei Yan-ho was currently poisoned and struggling, he wasn’t an opponent that Dang Jongui could dare to handle.

If he approached carelessly intending to attack, he’d have to be prepared to cleanly become a star in the sky.

Then what should he do?

Dang Jongui fell into conflict.

Under normal circumstances, any poison he could use here would surely fail to harm Wei Yan-ho.

And he wouldn’t have dared to use poison in the first place.

Using poison in a martial duel was forbidden.

While this was a very disadvantageous condition for the Dang Family, it was an unavoidable measure since it was impossible to moderately poison an opponent just enough to avoid serious harm and end the match without side effects.

But now Dang Jongui was falling into extreme temptation.

‘What should I do?’

Half driven by a hopeful thought, and half by the thought that even if he didn’t use them, a descendant of the Dang Family couldn’t help but carry poisons on his body, his sleeves currently held a collection of suitable poisons ready for use.

Against a normal Wei Yan-ho, he wouldn’t dare try anything with such poisons, but the current Wei Yan-ho was poisoned with Yin-Yang Soul Grass.

Then what if?

‘If I use this poison appropriately, I can accelerate the poisoning. Looking at his condition, it wouldn’t be difficult to make him lose consciousness.’

Then he might be able to gain victory by attacking appropriately to match the situation.

Dang Jongui bit his lips tightly.

‘What should I do! What should I do!’

It was a moment when he couldn’t help but agonize. If he defeated Wei Yan-ho, his reputation would instantly shake the Four Seas. Moreover, since he’d be removing the greatest obstacle to the Heavenly Righteous Alliance, his status within the alliance would rise infinitely.

It was a sweet temptation.

Too sweet.

Dang Jongui quietly smiled.

His decision was made.

“Can you face me in that condition?”

“What’s wrong with my body?”

“Hehe. Yes, bravado is a good move. But there’s no need for that.”

Dang Jongui puffed out his chest.

‘I won’t use poison.’

His expression was utterly serious.

‘Where there’s such a sweet fragrance, there’s always a trap. I’d rather choose a clean defeat.’

It wasn’t as if he had no desire to defeat Wei Yan-ho and spread his name throughout the world.

But that would be a bad move.

If Dang Jongui defeated Wei Yan-ho, people would suspect him before sending him praise. Based on what he’d shown so far, Dang Jongui was nowhere near capable of being Wei Yan-ho’s opponent.

Then a deep investigation would be conducted at the tournament level, and there was a chance it might be revealed that the Dang Family had used poison on Wei Yan-ho. That would be the worst outcome.

‘Victory is poison.’

Dang Jongui bit his lips tightly.

Today he would lose. But it wouldn’t be without gain. He’d learned that poison worked on Wei Yan-ho. Then he could kill Wei Yan-ho anytime. That was enough.

“You’ve been thinking a lot. Now, come at me!”

“W-wait a moment.”

Wei Yan-ho showed an uncharacteristically weak appearance and stumbled backward.

Seeing this scene, Dang Jongui frowned.

‘The poison must have reached his bones.’

If there weren’t so many watching eyes, this would be cause for celebration, but there were too many eyes here now. If it became known that Wei Yan-ho was unwell, there would be those who suspected him.

So for now, he would lose!

Having decided to endure temporary humiliation to reach higher places, Dang Jongui pulled out flying needles from his sleeves.

But at that moment.

“Uweeeeeeeeeek!”

Wei Yan-ho suddenly began to retch.

“Huh?”

“Uurk! Uurk! Ueek!”

“What?”

Then black blood began pouring out of Wei Yan-ho’s mouth like a waterfall.

Chiiiiiiik!

The moment Wei Yan-ho’s vomited blood touched the ground, the floor slightly melted and created pure white smoke.

“What the hell?”

Dang Jongui’s eyes bulged as if they might tear.

“Ah, ah… ah?”

In an instant, Dang Jongui, understanding the situation, looked around in horror.

“It’s poison!”

“He’s been poisoned!”

“I wondered why he was stalling for time—he was using poison! Coward!”

Dang Jongui waved both hands frantically.

“N-no, I didn’t do anything…”

At that moment, Wei Yan-ho, blood dripping from his mouth, opened his lips.

“Kugh, I didn’t notice the poisoning at all… truly marvelous.”

“When did I ever, damn it!”

Dang Jongui burst out shouting.

No, he really had never poisoned anyone, so what was this sudden bolt from the blue!

‘Yin-Yang Soul Grass doesn’t produce effects like that!’

Acid that melts the ground—that had nothing to do with Yin-Yang Soul Grass.

Those knowledgeable about the Dang Family’s poisons would scoff, but there couldn’t be anyone here who knew about the Dang Family’s poisons, and the visual effect of the black blood spewing from Wei Yan-ho’s mouth melting the ground was tremendous.

“Good heavens! Such a deadly poison!”

“Are you trying to kill him!”

“Using poison on the martial platform—such a shameless bastard! And such a deadly poison at that! Since when has the Dang Family become so brazen!”

The spectators’ criticism pierced straight into Dang Jongui’s ears.

“N-no!”

It was enough to drive him crazy, but the crowd had already become convinced that Dang Jongui had used poison to intoxicate Wei Yan-ho. Just as he thought he needed to make some excuse, the judge blocked the space between Wei Yan-ho and Dang Jongui with a stern face.

“Did you use poison!”

“N-no! I didn’t use any!”

“Then why is Wei Yan-ho poisoned?”

“I-I don’t know either.”

“Such brazenness!”

Just as the judge was about to shout, Wei Yan-ho reached out and grabbed the judge’s arm.

“Hmm? Are you alright?”

With a completely colorless face, Wei Yan-ho nodded.

“…I’m fine.”

“Step back. You need to receive medical treatment immediately. The Dang Family’s poison isn’t as mild as you think. Moreover, symptoms to this degree!”

Contempt gathered in the judge’s eyes.

‘It’s not true, you bastards!’

Of course, he had used poison. But that Yin-Yang Soul Grass had already been administered yesterday, and being poisoned with Yin-Yang Soul Grass doesn’t produce symptoms like that! Who would use such obviously visible poison for assassination!

“Th-this is a conspiracy!”

Dang Jongui looked at Wei Yan-ho, sweating profusely.

He hadn’t used poison. While the Dang Family did have several poisons that could cause such symptoms, he didn’t favor such violent poisons. And Dang Jonggeok had also said he only used Yin-Yang Soul Grass.

Then who had fed poison to Wei Yan-ho?

Right now, there were only two people capable of this.

One was Dang Myeong. But Dang Myeong couldn’t have done something so foolish. If someone fighting against the Sichuan Dang Family collapsed from poison, who wouldn’t be suspicious?

And the other one was…

‘N-no way?’

Goosebumps rose on Dang Jongui’s back.

At that moment, Wei Yan-ho gently pushed the judge aside.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, the martial duel isn’t over yet.”

“You’re going to continue the martial duel in that condition?”

“Yes.”

“Such foolishness! You’re poisoned right now! And you still want to continue the martial duel! That wicked man used poison, so there’s no need to face him.”

The judge spoke in an earnest tone, but Wei Yan-ho slowly… shook his head in a way that looked painful for everyone watching.

“Since I didn’t see… the poisoning happen, I cannot conclude that they used poison.”

“Isn’t the situation evidence enough!”

“However the opponent comes at me, being affected is my fault. I will conduct the martial duel properly.”

“You…”

The judge trembled as he looked at Wei Yan-ho.

He seemed moved, as if meeting a true martial artist for the first time in a long while. The spectators in front were also surprised and passed word to those behind.

“He-he’s continuing the martial duel!”

“Why? He’s poisoned right now!”

“He says since he didn’t catch them poisoning him, it’s his own fault!”

“Good heavens! How can someone be so inflexible? Truly the son of the Righteous Hero Sword!”

“…Is that an insult or praise?”

“Is that important right now!”

Dang Jongui felt like he was going insane.

‘Wh-what kind of situation is this?’

If the martial duel were suspended, he could demand an investigation from the tournament officials. Since he hadn’t used poison, he could ask them to confirm what poison came from Wei Yan-ho’s body.

But if things continued like this, he’d lose the justification to make such demands. If Wei Yan-ho said he was fine, who could say anything?

Whether Dang Jongui lost or won here, people would never forget the fact that the Dang Family had used poison in a martial duel.

‘No, this can’t happen!’

He needed to forfeit to resolve this situation. This wasn’t about the martial duel anymore. One wrong move and the Dang Family’s prestige would be buried in the ground.

“Fine. If the party involved says so, I have no grounds to stop it. Continue the martial duel!”

As the judge stepped far back, Wei Yan-ho staggered to his feet.

Thinking he had to prevent the situation from flowing the way Wei Yan-ho wanted, Dang Jongui raised his hand and shouted.

“I-I for…”

That was the moment.

Wei Yan-ho instantly closed the distance and appeared in front of Dang Jongui.

‘Gasp!’

And Dang Jongui saw it.

The expression on Wei Yan-ho’s face that said he was dying of amusement.

‘This con artist bastard!’

And Wei Yan-ho’s fist mercilessly drove into Dang Jongui’s stomach.